This widely recognized schooner capsized in "Death's Door" in a souther squall. The Jennibell
was carrying green wood and hemlock bark out of Egg Harbor and was abreast of Plum Island when the accident
occurred. The Incident was witnessed by Captain Burnham of the tug Gregory, who went to assist. The tug
rescued all sailors and took the vessel in tow. Rough water caused here to sink when in the vicinity of Chambers
Island due to weight of the green wood. The vessel was commanded by Captain Jacobson and owned by Captain
Christianson of Milwaukee. J.J. Barringer owned the cargo. Attempts were made to raise here but she had to
abandoned owning to the fact that her anchors were over board.

George O.Spear, the owner of the Gregory, demanded payment from Jacob and C. Christianson, owners of
the Jennibell, for services rendered, amounting to about $600. This was refused where upon suit was
begun in the United States District Court for the recovery of the amount. The schooner's owner filed a counter
suit for $3,000, the value of the vessel. On November 8th and 9th, 1882, the litigants appeared before Judge
Hamilton, who took the depositions of both sides and then several witnesses, G.M. Markham appearing for G.O.
Spear, the libelant, and G.D. Van Dycke for the respondents, Jacobson and C. Christianson. The arguments were
made in favor of Spear who won at least a small portion of what he claimed against the wreck. Owners of the
schooner were dissatisfied and were preparing to take the case back to court, however nothing more was heard
about it.

In the mid 1960s, Frank Hoffman, of Mystery Ship fame, located the Jennibell and intended to raise the
hull for use as a museum (which he later did with the schooner Alvin Clark). Members of his group
attempted to raise her on their own. They brought a barge and crane on sight, and strung cables underneath
the hull in a two cable cradle. As the vessel was being lifted off the bottom, the hull sagged in the center
and broke in two. The Jennibell was listed in the 1876 List of Merchant Vessels of the U.S. as
a schooner of 132.82 tons. While spelling of the name varies from book to book and from paper to paper, the
List of Merchant Vessels spells the name with tow E's, two N's, two L's, one I,  one word. One
book even listed it as the "Jane Bell", and while there was indeed a vessel by that name
that sailed on the bay for a short time, it ultimately moved to another part of the Great Lakes.
Door County Advocate, September, 22, 1881. Door County Advocate, November
16, 1882. Door County Advocate, February 26, 1885. William Eckert, personal Interview, June 14, 1986.
List of Merchant Vessels of the U.S., 1876, p. 138.